Telescopic crawler cranes: Speed and space

Telescopic crawler cranes are commonly found on sites where tasks such as foundation work, power transmission, wind power installations and other utility work is being carried out. They work alongside, or in place of, lattice boom crawler cranes and rough terrain cranes, especially in the oil and gas and energy industries.

Easy transport, ease of use and versatility means telescopic crawlers are starting to find their way into everyday crane rental fleets. Scott Knight, Link-Belt product manager for lattice and telescopic crawler cranes, explains, “There are a variety of applications for telescopic crawler cranes, especially as they begin filtering into everyday crane rental service. Some of the applications consistent with oil and gas include using the telecrawler as a general lifting machine and assisting with build-up and breakdown of smaller sized rigs.”

An advantage of telescopic crawler cranes is that high loads can be lifted and telescoped, which is impossible with a lattice boom crane, as a spokesperson from Liebherr points out, “Telescopic crawlers can drive with full load and because they need not be supported on outriggers they can be ready for work very quickly at another place on the construction site. These cranes are more flexible than a lattice boom crawler crane and the boom length can be adjusted very quickly.”

Latest models
To keep up to date with customer demands and regulations, such as emission laws, several new models have been launched over recent months. New from Tadano Mantis is the 130 US ton (126 tonne)capacity GTC‐1200. It is the largest in the company’s range. The GTC-1200 has a full power, 5‐section 12.8 to 47.2 m rounded section boom. A 3.8 m heavy lift jib with a capacity of 39.9 tonnes is part of the standard bi‐fold jib that has lengths of 10.3 m or 18 m. Optional are 7 m lattice inserts (a maximum of two). Maximum tip height is 82 m. Power is from a Cummins Tier 4 Final, QSL9 diesel engine rated 261 kW. Unladen it can negotiate a maximum gradient of 52 %, the manufacturer says.

The latest telescopic crawler crane from crane manufacturer Sany America is the 110 US ton (99.7 tonne) capacity SCC8100TBXL. “With a five section telescopic boom upper works combined with a crawler lower works, the new SCC8100TBXL model provides the dual advantages of a crawler crane and hydraulic crane,” the manufacturer says.

The SCC8100TBXL has a boom height of 47.5 m, 37 tonnes of counterweight, uses a heavy-duty nylon rope instead of a steel cable for boom extension and retraction, and is powered by a 224 kW Cummins QSL9-C300 Tier 4 Interim engine. It has a base machine weight of 45 tonnes and transport size is 14 m long, 3.5 m wide and 3.2 m high. It has a Porsche Engineering designed UltraCab 2 with large windows, heating and air conditioning, function screens and video monitors, the manufacturer says.

Kyle Nape, Sany America Lifting Group senior vice president, says, “Contractors will appreciate this crane’s manoeuvrability and stability on any jobsite. Because it’s set on a crawler base, the SCC8100TBXL sets up quickly without the need for outriggers. Its telescopic boom is ready for use without the setup time that fixed-boom cranes require.”

The SCC8100TBXL has a Rexroth hydraulic system and two single-stage double-acting extension cylinders power the boom, the manufacturer adds. The new addition has been designed for road and bridge building and was launched at the ConExpo show in Las Vegas in March.

New from crane manufacturer Link-Belt is the 50 US ton (45 tonne) TCC-500. It has a four section, full power boom with a maximum reach of 33.8 m. It is made of high tensile steel consisting of one base section and three telescoping sections. “The TCC-500 offers an impressive capacity chart that rivals even lattice crawler cranes with a similar base rating,” Scott Knight says.

The standard counterweight package for the TCC-500 is 11.3 tonnes and it travels at a height of 3.01 m and a width of 3.49 m. It has hydraulic pilot-operated control valves, winches with a 7.7 tonne line pull and a maximum line speed of 167.3 m per minute. It is also fitted with rear view cameras, as are also available on the larger TCC-750 and TCC-1100 models. The TCC-500 has a 160.3 kW EU Stage IV/Tier IV Final Cummins QSB engine. It is built for a single load transport.

To keep up with demands on emissions, Sennebogen is adapting its crawler cranes to suit the restrictions on emission laws. A spokesperson from Sennebogen says, “As the first telescoping crane of the new E-series, the 673 R-HD satisfies Tier 3b and Tier 4 emission standards due to a combination of a 160 kW Deutz engine, a soot particle filter and an exhaust after treatment system. In addition, the machine offers energy savings in Eco Mode when operating at a reduced engine speed.”

The 70 tonne capacity 673 R-HD telescopic crawler crane was launched at the Bauma show in 2013. It has a 3 m wide transport size and fast set-up time as it does not require levelling and supports, the manufacturer says. Lifting is possible on a slope up to 4 degrees, the manufacturer adds. It has a 36 m long boom arm and two fly boom versions of 8 and 15 metres. Maximum reach is 51 m. The Maxcab operator cabin has a large sliding door. Options include peripheral cameras and hydraulic elevation, raising the operator a further 2.7 m and tilt up to 30 degrees.

Design focus
Italian crane manufacturer Marchetti Autogru’s new telescopic crawler crane is the 25 tonne Sherpina 25.35. It is a lighter version of the 70 tonne capacity Sherpa 70.42L, which can be used in applications such as sheet piling. The new model is designed for applications including housing, construction, foundation engineering, civil engineering, general maintenance and electrical power lines, the manufacturer says.

When designing the Sherpina 25.35, attention to issues including reduced weight and dimensions were focused on, a company spokesperson says. “As a result, both models can be transported without removing tracks or counterweight,” the manufacturer says. In addition, both the 25.35 and the 70.42L can have an aerial platform of 2 x 1 m, with reach heights of 30 m and 52 m and a capacity of 200 and 360 kg, respectively.

The range of telescopic crawler cranes from crane manufacturer Liebherr includes the 60 tonne capacity LTR 1060, the 100 tonne capacity LTR 1100, the 220 tonne capacity LTR 1220 and the 1,200 tonne capacity LTR 11200. The LTR 1220 is the newest model in this range and is designed for wind power applications. It works well on long-term energy sector or infrastructure projects, a company spokesperson says.

“The crawler travel gear guarantees outstanding off-road handling as well as manoeuvrability. In addition, the full load can be moved with the crane,” the manufacturer adds.

Mini crawler cranes
Not all lifting on site involves many tonnes of weight or high reach. “Lifting is needed every day on a smaller scale, where location and access of the machine to the lifting area is the key factor,” a spokesperson from manufacturer of mini crane Maeda USA, points out.

Mini telescopic crawler cranes are becoming a popular choice for end users, especially in restricted or sensitive areas. “Compact crawler cranes are designed to be robust enough to lift heavy loads and travel across rough terrain but still have a narrow chassis for accessing hard-to-reach areas or working around obstacles on site,” Graeme Riley, GGR Group CEO, explains. “The trend for larger and heavier panels of architectural glass has also meant that these high capacity compact cranes are being used to install large-format glazing in restricted access areas.”

To meet demand for lifting in small areas, GGR offers the MCC805, an 8 tonne (at 3.5 m) capacity crane with a 20.5 m maximum lifting height with fly jib. It has a three section telescopic boom, 6.5 tonne pick and carry capacity, a 2.49 m wide base and radio remote control is optional. A diesel-electric version of the MCC805 for zero emissions is also available. The model is suitable to work in confined spaces and sensitive environments and is available without a cab.

Further models of mini crawler cranes offered by GGR Group include the MCC505, which has a lifting capacity of 4.9 tonnes at 2.1 metres, a 16.5 m lifting height, a five section telescoping boom, 2 tonne pick and carry capacity and 2.32 m wide base. Also available is the MCC804, which has an 8 tonne capacity at 2.5 m, a 13.7 m maximum lifting height, a four section telescoping boom, a 6 tonne pick and carry capacity and 2.49 m wide base.

From manufacturer Maeda USA is the 5.4 US ton (4.8 tonne) LC785. Designed for the North American market, the model has a maximum hook height of 20.5 m, and a width of only 2.3 m. The model is fitted with a fully EPA compliant Komatsu diesel engine, the manufacturer says.

“Unlike other mini cranes that are dependent on outriggers, the LC785 requires less work space,” a spokesperson says. “The tail swing is zero over the rear and only 30 cm over the side, so it can lift in the tightest of spaces. The heavy duty steel track system is more durable than rubber band tracks, but does have the option of bolt on rubber pads when required. Transport weight is 10.2 tonnes.”

Also from Japanese crane manufacturer Maeda is the new MK1033 with articulated boom. Capacity is 995 kg, maximum lifting height is 11.4 metres and the working radius is 9.35 m. The mini crawler crane with multi-position outriggers has a body width of 750 mm. It weighs 2 tonnes and an 820 kg auxiliary winch is available.